Shoe-stretching last



Aug. 5 19244'. 1,503,653

' G, R. HURT s HoE STRETCH-ING LAST Filed lmarch e. 1921 2 shwrs-sheet 1 Fatented Aug. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES GRANVILLE R. HUET, 0F GHANUTE, KANSAS.

SHOE-STBETCHING LAST.

Application filed March 9, 1921.

To all l207mm t may concern.:

Be it known that l, GnANvrLLn R. Huur', a citizen of the United States, residing at Chanute, in the county of Neosho and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Shoe-Stretching Lasts, of which the following is a specificai tion.

This invention relates to improvements in a shoe-stretching last and has for its object to provide means in a last whereby the toe of the shoe may be stretched.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a combine-dltoe and instep stretching last.

Tit-h the above and other objects in view, I have invented the device illust-rated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an eleva-tional view of my shoe stretcher shown as in the operation of stretching the instep portion of a shoe,

VFigure 2 is asimilar view of the device showing the same used as a toe stretcher,

Figure 3 is a rear end view thereof,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, and g Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the lower member of the stretcher and i Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the upper member thereof.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the following specification and in the several views in the drawings in which 1 indicates a shoe stretching last consisting of a lower section 2 shaped to conform to the bottom inner part of the shoe and an upper member 3 shaped to conform to the upper of the shoe. A leaf spring 4 is secured by screws 5 to the upper surface of the toe 6 of the member 2 and has its other end secured to the under surface of the member 3 approximately over the ball portion of the member 2. This spring together with a pair of coil springs 7 and 8 connect the two last members together at the toe end of the last. An inclined groove 9 is provided longitudinally in the under portion of the member 3. Pivotally mounted transversely of this groove toward its rear end is a ball-shaped nut 10 through which is threaded a T- headed bolt 11, having a ball 12 on its inner end. .Y This ball operates in groove 9 in the member 3 and in the longitudinal groove 13 in the upper' surface of the semi No. 450,845.

member 2, said grooves forming a guide for said ball as it is screwed forwardly or rearwardly between said members 2 and 3. An anchor' member 14 is sliidably mounted in the heel portion of member 1, whereby the device may be adjusted in length to the shoe being operated upon. The groove 9 terminates in a slot 15 rearwardly of the pivot nut 10. Said slot extending entirely through the portion 16 of the member' 3.

Then the device is being used to stretch the instep of the shoe the spring 4 acts as a hinge tohold the toe portions 6 and 17 together, so that upon screwing in on the bolt 11 the ball passes along the slots 9 and 13 in` a forward direction and acts as a wedge to force the rear portions of the members 2 and 3 apart, causing the instep part of the upper 18 to be stretched. lhen the device is used for stretching the toe of shoe the bolt 11 is screwed out to permit the rear parts of members 2 and 3 to come together in which position they are fia edly held by means of snap fasteners 19 and 2O having a common base 21 by means of which it is secured to the rear portion 22 of the member 2, said snap fasteners having openings 23 and 24 in which the pins 25 and 26 projecting from the rear surface 27 of the member 3 seat. The upper ends 28 and 29 of the members 19 and 2O are flared outwardly to permit the pins to readily seat behind said members 19 and 2O and force them outwardly until they snap into place thereover, whereby the rear ends of the members 2 and 3 are held securely together, so that upon screwing inwardly the bolt 11 the ball 12 operating in said grooves 9 and 13 pries the two ends 6 and 17 apart thus stretching the toe of the shoe being operated upon. The instep may be more eectively and quickly stretched by raising the lever handle 11 to a position shown by dotted line 11a, Figure 1.

I claim 1. A shoe stretcher consisting of a pair of last members, means for forcing the toe ends of said members apart, said means consisting of a ball and screw bolt, means for holding the rear ends of said members together, the upper of said members having a longitudinal slot therein in which said bolt operates, a nut pivotally mounted in said slot through which said bolt is threaded, and a leaf spring connecting said members, one end of said spring being connected to the toe of the bottom of said members and the other end of the spring being connected to the other of said members inwardly of its toe.

2. A shoe stretcher consisting of a pair of last members, means for forcing the toe ends of said members apart, said means consisting of a ball and screw bolt, means for holding the rear ends of said member together, the upper of said members havinga longitudinal slot therein, in which said bolt op erates, Va nut pivotally mounted in said slot through which said bolt is threaded, a leaf spring connecting said members, one end of said spring being connected to the toe of the bottom of said members andthe other end -being connected to the other of said members inwardly of its toe, and a pair of coil springs, one on each side of said leaf spring, also connecting said members, all of said springs acting to normally hold said toe ends together.

3. A shoe stretcher consisting of a pair of last members, means for forcing the toe ends of said members apart, said means consisting of a ball screw bolt, and a snap fastener for holding the rear ends of said members together, the upper of said members having a longitudinal slot therein, in which said bolt operates, a nut pivotally mounted in said slot through which 'said bolt is threaded, a leaf spring connecting said members, one end of said spring being connected to the toe of the bottom of said members and the other end being connected to the other of said members inwardly of its toe, and a pair of coiled springs, one on each side of said leaf spring, also connecting said members, all of said springs acting to normally hold' said toe ends together.

il. A shoe stretcher comprising upper and lower members, means for yieldably connecting the toe portions of the members, means for detachably connecting the opposite ends of the members, and means for adjusting the members one with respect to the other.

5. A shoe stretcher comprising upper and lower members, a spring for connecting the 'toe portions of the members, said spring having one end connected to the upper member and theopposite end connected to the lower member, means for detachably connecting the opposite ends of the members, and means for adjusting the members one with respect to the other.

6. A shoe stretcher comprising upper and lower members, means for yieldably connecting the toe portions ofthe members spring arms secured to the opposite end of one of themembers and adapted to engage the other member for detachably connecting the members, and means for adjusting the members one with respect to the other.

7. A shoe stretcher comprising upper and lower members, means for yieldably connecting thetoe portions of the members, a spring arm connected to the opposite end of one of the members and having anA opening therein, a projection carried by the other member and adapted to engagein the opening of the spring arm for detachably connecting the members, and means for adjusting the members one with respect to the other. i Y Y 8; A shoe stretcher comprising upper and lower members, means for yieldably connecting the toe portions of the members, a bifurcated spring arm Vconnectedto one of the members andhaving openings therein, projections carried by the other member and adapted to enter the openings of the spring arm for detachably connecting the members, and a rod carried by that member having the projections for adjusting the members one with respect to the other, said rod when the members are connected extending into the bifurcated portion of the spring arm.

In testimony whereofl afiiX signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A GRANvILL R. Witnesses R. S'. CROSS, C. E. WELSH. 

